Wave guide modulation apparatus



Dec. 4, 1951 F. A. JENKS 2,576,943

WAVE GUIDE MODULATION APPARATUS Filed Jan. :51, 1945 2 SHEETS=-SHEET 1 Fag. I /2 l8 CAEEIEB G'ENEEAM vINVENTOR F A. J5 KS BY Dec. 4, 1951 JENKS 2,576,943

WAVE GUIDE MODULATION APPARATUS Filed Jan. 31, 1945 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 u. it F TRANSMITTER 33 u b i i9ooq g m i H i UUU i IUU PM}??? l o E/VKS eo0- BY 1 V o s/ 6L0 55.) ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 4, 1951 WAVE GUIDE MODULATION APPARATUS Frederic A. J enks, Rockville Centre, N. Y., assignor to The Sperry Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application January 31, 19515, Serial No. 575,415

4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to the modulation or interruption of radio waves, and more particularly to a method and means for modifying the amplitude of ultra high frequency energy during its transmission from one or more sources to one or more utilization circuits.

The present application is a continuation-inpart of application 491,165, entitled Stereoscopic Observation System and filed June 17, 1943, Patent No. 2,540,121, dated February 2, 1951, in the name of Frederic A. J enks.

Radi systems for the guidance of mobile craft are common that are characterized by the provision of a pair of partially overlapping patterns comprising either radiation or reception directivity characteristics forming a line or, more generally speaking, a surface in space defined by points either at which signals are received from the radiation patterns with equal relative intensity or from which points signals must be transmitted to be received by the reception patterns with equal relative intensity.

Direction finding radio receivers embodying this principle are well known. When employed for reception these patterns represent the characteristics of receiving antennas which in a preferred type of apparatus are alternately connected to a radio receiver. The receiver amplifies and detects signals collected by the antennas and provides an output voltage having an amplitude which varies in accordance with the energy collected by the antenna momentarily utilized. This output voltage may either be switched in synchronism with the antennas and supplied in opposition to a zero-center galvanometer to obtain a measure of the difference in the signa s andthus a directional indication, or alternatively the output voltage may be applied to a dynamometer type directional indicator, where it is compared with a reference alternating voltage synchronized with the switching cycle. Other forms of this direction finding system obtain a polarity or phase reversing directional error signal in order to actuate a follow-up mechanism adapted to rotate the antennas until the radio waves are received with equal intensity. The present invention is particularly useful in carrying out this antenna switching operation efiiciently and noiselessly at ultra high frequencies where conventional commutators and discharge tubes cannot be employed.

Radio beacon systems which lay down a course in a predetermined direction by means of these partially overlapping patterns in the form of radio beams are much used for lateral guidance of aircraft and also for vertical guidance during instrument landing descents. These beams must be distinctively characterized to provide not only an indication of displacement from the equisignal surface but also a directional sense for any indicated displacement.

It has been customary in ultra high frequency instrument landing systems to employ a single, constant frequency source of waves and characterize the two beams defining the equisignal surface by difierent audio frequency modulations. It has also been found necessary to transmit the radio beams alternately to avoid destructive wave interference in space resulting in erroneous oncourse indications.

Relatively simp'e electromechanical means have been disclosed by the prior art to effect both,

modulation and switching of the beams by periodically altering the transmission characteristics of the paths over which the high frequency energy is supplied to the radiators. modulation here refers to variation of the amplitude of radio frequency energy according to an harmonic modulation wave comprising at least a series of several alternations. The term switching refers to the suppression of transmitted energy over intervals of appreciable length, as for example, over intervas corresponding in length to the time required for several cycles of the modulation.

One of the most satisfactory of these modulating and switching devices for ultra high frequencies comprises cavity resonators placed between sections of transmission lines connecting the generator to the radiators. Rotatable disks having peripheral irregularities cooperate with each of the resonators and are adapted to recurrently vary the natural frequency thereof, thereby correspondingly varying the coupling between the generator and the radiators during alternate portions of an iterated cyce, and are also adapted to maintain the resonators at a constant natural frequency during the alternate remainder portions of the cycle. Thus, the combined action of the rotatable disks and resonators is to switch the energy between the two radiators and amplitude modulate the same at a distinct frequency according to the radiator momentarily energized.

Although these resonator modulators constitute a marked simplification and advance over purely electronic devices, and at the same time introduce no moving or intermittent electrical contacts, yet each resonator is necessarily highly frequency sensitive and requires input and output coupling adjustments together with tuning The term.

means to insure that not only is maximum power transmitted to each radiator but also that the power is equalized between the tWo beams with minimum cross-modulation of the same.

It is, therefore, the prime object of the present invention to provide a simplified and improved method and -means:for modulating and/or switch. ing ultrahigh frequency energy between oneon5 more sources and one'or more utilization circuits.

Another object is to provide a substantially' non-resonant transmission line modulator device requiring no critical tuning-adjustments;

A further object lies in .theprovision on. an.

economical and rugged transmissionline:modu=- lator or energy transfer switch which may be manufactured with more liberal mechanical.

tolerances than previously known devicesforthesame purpose. V i

Yet another object of the invention is to provide rotatable interceptor. or.v reflector. means.

adaptedto be. interposed. between. alignedlopem ings of wave guide: conduit. sections. so as: to; amplitude modulate theenergy flowingthrough theconduits in accordance. with. the rotational;

frequency of" the interceptononrefiecton means:

andcitsconfiguration.

(it-her objects and advantages. will'become sip.- 1 parent as the d'escriptionproceeds' andafter con-.- sid eration of the illustratedlembcdiinentswherein. those features oftheiinvention are disclosed that accomplish the above objects.

In the-drawings; Fig.1. is i a. schematic. diagram of one. form. of. electromechanical wave guide switchembodying the present invention. Fig.2 is a detail of a reflector inthe system ofFigrl. V

3 is a. diagrammatic representation of a. double-beamradio transmitter. employing a form. oftlie switching and. modulating means disclosed bythe present invention. 7

. Fig. 4 is an. enlarged detail. of" an interceptor disk'adapted to be employed. in the'system of. Fig. 3 and shows a. configuration suitablefor. inst'ruament landing purposes.

disk employed.

Fig. 5. 's a graph illustrating the amplitude. envelope ofthe waves'radiat'ed. by the system ofi Fig. B'vvhen' the interceptor disk shown in Fig. 4'.

is" employed. 1

Fig; 6 is a block diagram in partial cross-section illustrating an. alternate form of theinvention. employing physically separate reflector means for each of several wave guides. r v Similar reference numerals are employed toindicate correspondinglparts inthe above figures. Q In its essential form, the present'invention contemplates ,interposing wave interceptor or reflector ,mearis'between juxtaposed sections of a wave guide conduit which couples a source'ofultra highfreq'ue'ncy energy to its utilization circuit for: the purpose of varying the energy flow. The'flowmay be switched on-off or may be modulated. to any" desired extent. This switching or modu-- l'ation may be achieved by varying the amount. or" position of that portionof the reflector means interposed between the conduit sections, This variation is conveniently accomplished by providing relative rotation between the conduit sections and reflector or interceptor means possessirig' reflecting" or short-circuiting properties that are altered throughout the area aligned with the conduit cross-section. The interceptor or. reflector means may take many forms. It iswell known, for example, that a grid structure, com-v prising a large number of wires designed to ooincide with the electric field, serves'as an excellent reflector or short-circuit therefor and requires a minimum of material and weight, yet manufacturing economy and ruggedness tend to 5 make a simple conducting surface'refiector pref- Thespaced. wave. guide. endsfarming, the,

intowhich the interceptor. meansisfniterppslad; are. furnished". with. means for. inhibiti g; 1194;111:1 1.- tion loss therefrom., This, radiationinlrli it.1 %E meansidoesnotof itself formaipart oithe present invention. and. may conveniently; take. the. form of'a. welEknown choke joi'ntor wavetrap such as; the. one described... Practical Analysis. cg Ultra High Frequency by Meaghan. and Markley published by. RCA. Service Ccmpany,,,Inc., 1.9. 43. Referring. new. to. Fig...1.'.'a, carrier, generation Llis arranged tov provide. ultra, high. frequency. energy alternately toradiators LA and. l3lthrough. theagencies of. wave guide. branch; sections. [4,. L53 and". I15 L1,. resp.e.ctiyely,, supplied through a .commonwave guide feedenportion; 18,-. Wane. uide. sections; [4;- and; lfii'are. physically separated; by caps. 22; and 25'1fr0mtheir'comp'anion wave: guide. sections. IE and I1; respectively, Junta; posed wave guide sections. is. and. L5,. and. simie. larly disposedsections wand LlarespaQedsufm cientlyto enable a metallic-disk. Zfimmmtedon. ashaft. 2.1 of; a. motor 2.8-. to. hcrctatably. intergs posedltherebetween. The diskshownindetailin Fig. '2 has a pnrti'onlbf its periph rx cut. order. that. the. gaps, 22 and ZEibealtGmately ex; posed; when. the. motor 2.8.. isin. op r tion- Thus. the. action of the rotating. disk, is first, to. permit, and; then. to. interrupt flow. of. energy from gene. crater H. to radiators l2, and. L3, in, successiom The frequencywith which the energy istrans-= ferrednr commutated between radiators. i2; and Isis seento. be. determined by. the speed, of motor 28,. and the relationshipbetween the, active and. inactive. portions oi the-switchin cycleji prede termined by the physical, configuration oi, the disk 26. p In. order to. minimize leakage of energy out or the gaps 22 and 25.: and. permit-ma mum trans: mission across these. gaps-from,- the radiating wave guides l4 and lie to their: respective receiv ing' wave guidleslfifand, 11.1 radiation in biting. means are provdedin the fo m. of Wav ra 0. choke up ngs comprisin m tal plates. 3 and I 9 mounted levelwith the. ends of waveguides, l4, and i6, respectively, and formed with an annular closed slotstamped therein apprQXimately quag- Y ter Wavelength deep at the operating frequency and a quarter wavelength distant vfrom the wave guide openings. Metallic plates Q1 flanges. 24' and 2| are placed flush with the endsf wave guide sections l5 and ll, respectively, and 99: operate with. plates 23 andv 1.9., respectively, to

present high impedance to ene gy attemp i flow transversely of the wave guides, and at the same time ofier low impedance to transmission therealong. These choke joints or wave trap couplings are well known in the art as mentioned above.

The alternate interposition of the disk 26 in gaps 22 and 25 gives rise to reflections of the ultra high frequency waves at these points. The lengths of wave guide sections l4 and I6 are such as to produce an apparent open-circuit at the junction of these guide sections with feeder l8 whenever the disk 26 blocks the respective guide opening. Thus, there is no appreciable loss of power in the apparatus, substantially all the generated energy being transferred from one radiator to the other in succession.

The separation of the portions of the wave trap coupling may be made sufiicientlv great to permit the employment of a sturdy reflector disk and also allow for considerable mechanica1 clearance. For example, it has been experimentally found that at a wavelength of 3.2 cm. a spacin of 5 mm. can be utilized with a loss of only 5% of the energy transmitted across the gap if a simple wave trap or choke joint of the type described is emoloyed. Without any transverse radiation inhibiting means, however, only 33% of the power was found to be transmitted.

It has also been empirically determined that the location of the reflection produced by intercepting means, such as the metallic disk 25 is very closely in the plane of the wave guide opening rather than being located in the plane of the interceptor or reflector itself. This is highly advantageous since slight vibration of the disk 25 or variation in its distance from the wave guide section M or I 6 has substantially no effect on the position of the reflecting plane. Thus liberal mechanical tolerances may be permitted without reducing the efliciency of the system as a result of detuning.

Referring now to Fig. 3, there is shown a form of the invention adapted to provide partially overlapping meams which are distinctively modulated and are alternately transmitted from a single directive reflector 3| which may form a paraboloid. These beams are radiated from adjacent mouths 33 and 34 of wave guides 35 and 36, respectively, placed on either side of the focus of reflector 3| which is viewed in elevation. Wave guides 35 and 33 are energized through choke joints 3! and 38 fed by a common wave guide 33 from an ultra high frequency transmitter 32.

Joints 31 and 38 are shown to be of the socalled choke-to-choke symmetrical construction, each com rising a pair of annularlv slotted wave trapping members placed on opposite sides of the gaps between wave guides 35, 35 and guide 39. The operation of these chokes on the side nearest the source of ultra high frequency energy is identical to that of the chokes shown in Fig. 1 but the former possess the additional advantage of greatly reducing any possible leakage of energy from guide 35 to guide 33 or vice versa, which would result in cross-modulation of the radiated beams.

Although it is rarely necessary, multiple filters in the form of additional concentric one-quarter wavelength deep slots may be formed spaced onequarter wavelength from each other in the choke members. This more elaborate construction enables radiation losses at the gaps to be reduced to any desired degree.

The choke joints 31, 38 are arranged side by side in order that a reflector disk M may intercept them on one side of a shaft 42 which supports the disk and is driven by motor 43. In this particular embodiment of the invention the disk 4| has rim 52 around its circumference for stifiening purposes.

The coupling between adjacent wave guides 35 and 36 may also be substantially eliminated by coating the surface of disc 4! on the far side of transmitter 32 with a material of high resistivity for the purpose of attenuating any energy seeking to propagate transversely of the wave guide openings.

A possible configuration of the disk 4| is shown in Fig. 4 where it has been arbitrarily assumed for illustrative purposes that the disk is synchronously rotated at 3600 R. P. M., and that it is desired to modulate the beam emitted by Wave guide 35 at 900 cycles a second for one-half the switching period and the beam emitted by wave guide 36 at 600 cycles a second during the other half of the period. It might appear necessary to vary the energy emitted by guide 35 7% times during the half cycle, and the energy transmitted by the other guide 5 times during the other half cycle. Since it is impossible to modulate sinusoidally a fractional cycle, 8 outer windows 44 and 5 inner windows 45 are cut in the disk Al to permit periodic transmission of energy from the wave guide 39 to wave guides 35 and 33, respectively. The windows 44 are angularly spaced in the proportion of 15 to the circumference of the disk, and are disposed in a semicircle opposite the windows 45 which are angularly spaced in the proportion of 10 to the circumference of the disk.

These windows are shown to subtend angles from the center of the disk 4| equal to those subtended by the adjacent reflecting sectors. The rectangular wave guides 35 and 36 are positioned with their greatest transverse dimensions lying along the radius of the disk. Windows 45 are just equal in minimum dimensions to the interior cross-section of wave guide 36.

Fig. 5 illustrates the modulation envelope and transmission sequence produced by such a disk configuration as is shown in Fig. 4. Modulation envelope 46 shows that there are five substantially sinusoidal amplitude variations in the energy transmitted through wave guide 36 during every other half rotation of the disk ll. Envelope 4! shows eight similar amplitude variations in the energy transmitted through wave guide 35 during slightly more than the half periods between the intermittent production of envelope 45. As a result of the necessity for employing an integral number of windows 44, the choice of eight windows causes portions of the 900 cycle modulation envelope 4! to overlap slightly in time the 600 cycle modulation envelope 46.

In instrument landing applications, no radio interference has been observed from this cause, since the overlapping portions indicated at 48 and 49 are relatively short compared to an entire modulating cycle, and the amplitudes of both beams are small during these times. The dashed line 5| represents the momentary time position in which the disk 4! has been illustrated in Fi 4.

It must be emphasized that Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a particular switching and modulating condition merely as an example. Even this same modulating and switching sequence may be achieved by many different configurations. The windows 44, for example, might be merely portions cut from the periphery of disk 4| and the stiffening rim 52 might be eliminated.

d 38 would reduce't'he' possibil of a coupling betvy tire wave guideopening.physicallymaybe under;

stood by observing that 'the electric field intensity for the most commonly. employed mode of propagation is conoentrated at the center of the greatest transverse dimension and'ialls to zero at the wave guide sides. 'In' general, it may be. stated that the. shape of, the. window. is uncritical, and; its alteration only. slowly. affects the harmonic content of the modulation envelope.

Referring nowfto Figi fi, there is illustrated a form oi the invention which finds. application in the direction radio systems inevicuzsll discussed-. A Pair; oiisouices of ultra high fre-. quency energy 53 and kiisupply a'u tilization ape paratus 55 according; tea. time sequence predetermined by the wave guide modulating apparatusof the present invention. Sources 53' and 54 are connected byvvave' guides and 52, respectively, to symmetricalor choke-to-choke joints 3? and 38, respectivelyl' The: output sides of joints 3! and 38 co'nnect to. a common Wave. guide 58 feeding the utilization apparatus 55 Physically separate interceptor dislgs 5 9 and iii cooperate with joints 31 and 33, respectively, and are actuated'in synchronism by a motor. 62. Disks 59 and 6! may conveniently have. their peripheries notchedor cut away, according to' the particular modul ating or'switchir g requirements. a Y

If sources 53 and-54 are receiving antennas. and the. apparatus 55 comprises a receiver. and direction indicator, then disks. 59. and 61, are so formed as to alternately. supply. signals. to ape paratus 55 at a periodicity sufiiciently high to. permit easy. audio amplification and steady. in.- dication. It is evident that since joints 3'! and 38 are symmetrical the, direction of energy flow may be reversed, device, 55. then being a source of power and devices 53- and '54 becoming load circuits.

Inasmuch asthe present invention has very general utility'in the cIontrolof ulta, high fire-. quency energy, and is in no Waylimited to direcr. tion finding, instrument landing, or. such specific, applications, the discussion oi the same, is merely byway of example. a What is claimed is: o 1'. An amplitude modulator of radio frequency oscillations, comprising a first Wave guide conduit having a radiating end for. emitting said oscillations, a second wave guide conduit having a receiving end disposed opposite and adjacent the radiating end ofsaid f rst conduit for receiving said oscillations, filter means associatedwith said condu n s. f inhib in ra igtipe tra sve ely We i t'f i5! and 3.6; Another arrangement for. performing the seas aware v l re 'fi ectorlme "s,."bing in Exposed betvv en.

conduitends, said filter..me' ns compris ng suh-ij 5 stantially parallel cdnductiv'fian'ges on sa d, @011 duit; end s, at least oneoi said flanges havin ia quarter wavele'ngth deep annularrecessor groove surrounding the. wave guide end, the faces of set flanges being spaced apart.sufiicientlyjtov permit" 10 said reilectormeans to pass freely therehetiyleeii and terming a Wave. emergence inhibitor, and motive means for rotating said reflector. meansto amplitude ,modulate the oscillations, received by said second conduit.

An. amplitude modulator of; radio frequency.- oscillations, comprising a first wave. guide con; duit having a radiating end for'emitting. said oscillations, a s e cond vvave guide conduit. havinga e e ving e d sp opp e nd edies nt theradiating end of said first conduit for receiv ing saidoscillations, filter means; associated with said conduit ends for inhibiting radiation trans; 'versely; thereof; ancla rotatable conducting disl; alignedvwith said oonduit ends, said filter means comprising a pair. oi? substantially parallel; con-. ducti-ve flanges on saidconduit ends, at leastone. Of said fl s ha n a. quar er-Wave th deep annular. recess in its. face surrounding the wave.

guide e d h faces Q -sa si flan e e n rase p r uiiic v pe m t eid; dis to pa s reel therebetween, said dis}; having a configuration uch t ou etwe sa d; ondu ends s varied;- as, a d sk i r tated there amp tude. m dulat ng sci la on receiv d b said second conduit. a j

3. An apparatus. for conducting ultra high, f-rencv tro net c ne y fr m Source. o power s cce sively to: alt ate. l c rcuit h c m at on m r in a... pai f ran ver ely t9. s tted wave guide n u be ween sa d ource. and said circuits, W lZetrap means associated with the slot in each of said conduits toinhibit loss of energy therefrom, and reflector means adapi fidtoextendalternately through each slot andacross 5 the respective guide conduit, therebyv intermittently' interrupting the. now. of energyfitherethrough, said'wave trap means comprising, a pair ofsubstantially parallel conductive flanges on each of said conduits adjacent the'slot thereof, at'l'east one of the'fiangs'of each pair having a quarter-Wavelength deep annular recess" of groove surroundin the conduit, the'fac'es of said flanges being spaced apart suiiici'ently to' permit said 'reifle'ctor mean's' to' p'ass freely the'rebetwen and forming a 'wavefeinerg'ence' inhibitor to'- gethervvith s'aid're'fiector'means." V o 4 In an energy distribution system, a high frequency energy'source, two radiators connected energy from therespective as ass na ear ept r means m iet es w n an i r Of ind a d re rap m a ii i insl x of. ubs ant a P a l l on cti e an es on sa d. au a olse psdu t n s at a hes; at said isle o th na rat ng, a quarte leng h deepaimiilar reces or a e e s conduit end, the faces of said apar su jficient y e m 5 to pass newmastermind lll r enqo n l p t Q F Wi sa 3 teases ro ab e e 'l ie assves 10 oeptor means, and motive means for operating Number Name Date said interceptor means to alter periodically the 2,323,735 Tawney July 6, 1943 distribution of energy between said radiators. 2,396,044 Fox Mar. 5, 1946 FREDERIC A. JENKS. 2,415,242 Hershberger Feb. 4, 1947 2,423,130 Tyrrell July 1, 1947 REFERENCES CITED 2,426,992 Follandet a1 Sept. 9, 19.47 fiThef ftcgiowing rteferences are of record in the FOREIGN PATENTS 0 18 en Number Country Date UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS 802,756 France Sept. 15, 1936 Number Name Date 2,106,771 Southworth Feb. 1, 193a OTHEI? REFERENQES 2,129,712 southworth Sept. 13, 1938 Practical Analysis of pitra I:I1gh Frequency," 2267951 Roosenstem 30, 1941 by Meagher et a1., published m 1943 by RCA 2,297,512 Von Baeyer Sept 29 1942 15 Service Co., Inc., Camden, N. J page 16. 

